When was the last time a running back forced us to rethink the Heisman trophy race? Enter Ashton Jeanty, Boise State’s bulldozer on the field, whose 2024 stats feel like they were pulled straight from an NCAA College football 2025 video game. Standing in his way? Colorado’s two-way phenom, Travis Hunter, coached by none other than Deion Sanders. Both players have electrified college football, but with Jeanty’s generational numbers leading the charge, this race is getting spicier than ever before.

Recently, CBS Sports dropped a stat bomb that turned the college football world on its head. In an Instagram post breaking down the season’s top rushers, they crowned Ashton Jeanty as not just No. 1 but also No. 2. Confused? Don’t be as the 5’9” powerhouse leads the FBS with a jaw-dropping 2,288 rushing yards while also holding the second spot with an outrageous 1,695 yards after contact. Let that sink in—this man has more yards after being hit than most backs have in total.

If you say, Ashton Jeanty only just pad his stats against weak competition, you just simply hating at this point  He raw-dogged Oregon’s No. 1-ranked defense for 192 yards and 3 touchdowns, a performance that screamed, “Put some respect on my name!” Add his 28 touchdowns and an eye-popping 7.8 yards per carry, and you’ve got a Heisman resume that’s harder to argue against than a group project teammate doing all the work at Boulder.

Boise State’s RB1 runs like he’s collecting rent from defenders. Defensive schemes? Forget about it. This guy straight runs through everything like he’s late for dinner. Whether it’s finesse or brute force, Jeanty’s got it all. His numbers look like man’s playing QB. Yet, somehow, the conversation still revolves around Hunter. Sure, two-way stars are rare, but how do you overlook numbers like Jeanty’s? We’re talking Barry Sanders’ territory here.

If Jeanty’s rushing game doesn’t lock up the Heisman, what will? The only thing standing between him and college football’s biggest individual prize is a Buffs star who can do it all—Travis Hunter. And as the Heisman race heats up, the chatter surrounding Hunter’s two-way dominance keeps growing louder and louder each game.

Does Travis Hunter have an edge over Ashton Jeanty?

Well, if you ask former NFL star Charles Woodson, the answer might be yes. Woodson, a Heisman-winning two-way player himself, gave Hunter his flowers on a recent broadcast. “Yeah, a lot of respect for what that young man has done (in Ashton Jeanty), but I got a man that’s played over 1,400 snaps, man playing both ways,” Woodson said. “This dude is outstanding.”

Woodson wasn’t done hyping up Hunter either, calling out his snub from the Jim Thorpe Award. “He got snubbed … so what did he do yesterday? Go out there and give you a 13-piece.” Straight facts. Hunter didn’t just dominate—he dropped three touchdowns and snagged an interception in Colorado’s 52-0 blowout over Oklahoma State, putting his versatility on full display.

With Hunter’s supporters growing louder and Jeanty continuing to bulldoze defenses, the Heisman race is coming down to the wire. Will the voters value Jeanty’s generational stats or Hunter’s once-in-a-lifetime versatility? One thing’s for sure: both players have left their mark, and college football fans are the real winners in this showdown. Tell us who you got in the comment section below!